Refrigerator and means for main



M h 1943- H. K. JOHNSON ,437,257

REFRIGERATOR AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE COMPARTMENTS THEREOF AT DIFFEHENT TEMPERATURES Filed April 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 9, H. K.'JOHNSON 3 v REFRIGERATOR AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE COMPARTMENTS' THEREOF AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES Filed April 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvroa fimzarl Mirna/2 Patented Mar..9, 1948 REFRIGERATOR Ann MEANS FOR MAIN-I TAINING 'rns COMPARTMEN'ES 'rm anor n'r nrmnnnr TEMPERATURES Herman" Kliioii nson, Grand Haven, Mich}, as-

signor to The Bastian-Bles ing Company, Chi-- caza' IiL, a'corporation 01' Illinois Appllcationnpril 2, 1945,.Serial no. 586,240

This invention relates. to refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to' that-type. having a plurality of chambers maintained'ati difierent temperatures.

One of the objects of the invention is the pro-, vision of a new and improvedhermetically sealed unit with a plurality of expansion coils "so constructed'and arranged that'the. temperatures of the compartments containing the'coils. are'diiferent and will remain substantially constant between predetermined limits,

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multi-compartment refrigeration apparatus provided with refrigerating mechanism comprising an-expansion coil for each compartment, with the coils providing; difierenttemperatures and all arranged in series for preventin short cycling of the apparatus,

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved hermetically sealed refrigerating unit of the dry. type or system that-may be assembled-as a commits; unitary {automatically controlled structure nornially rei" quiring no attention during itsirseaondiiring the life of the machine:

3 A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multi-compartment refrigeration apparatus having newan'd improved means so constructed and arranged that the compartments may be automatically maintained at difierent temperatures without. the aid of either expan- Another object of the invention is an improved. arrangement for cooling water for drinking and I beverage purposes whereinathe cooling coil is connected in series with. a refrigerant compressor whose operation is control-led in relation to the temperature of any one of a number of other partments. r Other andjurther objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accom' panying drawingain which '1 Claims. (c1. 62-7) Fig. 1 is a perspective view o f a soda fountain cabinet; y N Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic showing of the refrigerating mechanism employed'in the fountain; Fig. 3 is a section of one of the, restricted portions of the refrigerating system, with parts broken away; c

Fig. 4 ma diagrammatic showing jof another arrangement of the invention as embodiedin a fountain with the wa'ter cooling coils encased in a normally solidmaterial; ,Fig 5 is a front elevation of the-water ooler shownin Fig. 4,. and l Fig. 6 is-a lateral sectional viewfitakentransvers'ely through the construction 11 "in Fig. 5 as a vertical plane.

In the manufacture" and use"of'frefrigerating units especially adapted for counter fountains, and the like, it is common practice toso'constr'uct and mount the separate'expansion coil'sffor'the diilferentcompartments that the separate cornpartments maybe maintained at different temperatures. In such an arrangement the"expansion coils for the difierent"compartments-are usually in paralleL-thus' necessitating the use of both differential pressure and expansion valves. It has alsojbe'en considered necessary to employ a comparatively-large charge of refrigerant.

The controls of the conventional typeof =r'efrig'eratingunits are complicated. As a rule a construction maintaining a multi-compartment unit at difierent temperatures for thecompartments requires the use of motors'of' greater than one-half horsepower for operating the system. But it is consldered'to' be good practice, where the motor required is'greater than one-halfhorsepower, to employ an electric starting device for starting the motor, which, of course-,complicates the structure and adds 'to the initial cost of the system, and is more or less'expensiveto operate 'beside occupying additional space. v

The present invention seeks to greatly reduc the original cost of the apparatus and its cost of installation, as well as materialiy'reducingthe running expenses of the entire refrigerating,

apparatus.

I The present syst'em requires a minimum of material since numerous parts as' valves and the like, have been eliminated and other parts greatly simplified, The amount oi. refrigerant is grleatlyreduced. In a refrigerating apparatus formerly requiring 10 to 12' pounds of Freon "(F-1'2); with a half-horse power meter fox-operating the refrigerating mechanism, an appa- Bil ratus-of the same capacity requires only 3 to 4 pounds oi the same refrigerant, and the device instance,- is in the form of coils. Any suitable re.

may be operated by a third-horsepower motor. 'frigerant expansion members-maybeemployed,

Furthermore, in maintaining the separate compartments of a dry system refrigerating apparatus at different temperatures, it "is common practice to provide a surge tank into which the refrigerant from higher temperature compartvalves and but one control is required. X The apparatus which includes the cabinet and refrigerating mechanism are assembled as a unit at the factory, the compressor and motor are assembled as a single hermetically sealed unit, as shown diagrammatically at 60 in Fig. 2, and

all joints between the coils and connecting conduits are'also hermetically sealed, as by brazing, so that the complete apparatus may be manufactured and sold as an hermetically sealed apparatus. This is considered a very important feature of the invention, because it not only conserves material but the assembled unit may be sold at a greatly reduced price.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character l designates a fountain or refrigerating cabinet having a plurality of compartments. The cabinet has front and back side walls ll, end walls l2, and atop wall l3. The

cabinet is divided into a plurality of chambers or compartments comprising what, for convenience of description, will be termed a condensing chamber or compartment l4; a storage, cham her or compartment I5; a liquid or water bath compartment is; ice cream compartment I1; and

' a hardening compartment 1 8.

The front portion of the cabinet has an upward projection |9,in the form of a compartment extendinglthe full length of the cabinet, and which will be referred to as ,the jar rail. This Jar rail is provided with a top wall 2|, on which is mounted the fountain or dispensing arms 48, 49, for

the sweet water and for the carbonated water.

' Contiguous to the top wall 2|, and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, is a jar supporting plate 23, within which is mounted the containers for the removable jars 24 containing the various flavored syrups, as is usual in such f constructions. A depression 25 is providedbeneath the fountain or dispensing valves 22 .for

but forillustratingone embodiment of the invention these' expansip,n members will be describedas-beingjinthe form of coils or pipesv 0i -tne usual constructiomahd of theconventional Both of these features are providinga seat or support for the glasses or other containers used in serving the public from the dispensing arms.

.The compartments l5, l1 and I8 are provided with hinged closures 25, 21 and 28, and the compartment I8. is provided with a removable closure 29. Since the construction of the fountain or cabinet is. substantially like those of the conventional type, it is not thought necessary to describe the some more in detail except to state that each one of the compartments, except the compartment I4, is provided with a conventional insulating material on the walls of the compartment. The compartment I6 is filled with water 3|, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, which functions asa heat exchanger fluid as well as a body for storing cold, aswill presently appear.

The refrigerating mechanism is so constructed her for each compartment, which, in the present only one cylinder being shown in the diagram These cylinders are located-in'the air stream of the condenser fan 35, which tends to cool them.

The pistons are operated by a crank on the vertical armature shaft, as indicated-in Fig. 2. The compressed refrigerant passes from the compressor 32 through the condenser 34, which is air cooled by the fan 35. The condenser or condenser coil 34 is housed in a casing 350 surrounding the fan and condenser. The condenser coil 34 may, if desired, be water cooled, but itis shown as being air cooled in the. present construction, so that the unit may be more easily installed.

From thecondenser 34 the refrigerant passes along through the main lead, pipe or pressure conduit then through a restrictor section 38 of the refrigerant line 30. This restrictor section is of comparatively short length, and very materially less in internal diameter than the pipe 30, so that it functions as an expansion valve. The refrigerant is expanded into an expansion coil 31, which may be, and preferably is, of larger diameter than thatv portion of the pipe 30 between the condenser 34 and restrictor section 36. The coil 31 is located in the storage chamber I5 for cooling the latter. It is arranged around the compartment IS in the usual manner, for cooling the compartment. From the chamber IS the refrigerant is discharged into the water bath cham- Y water'and the carbonated water, which are led 5| also functions as an expansion valve.

into the chamber through the tubes 39 and 4|, from suitable sourcesof supplyr These tubes are in communication with corresponding coils 42, 43, which are immersed inthewater 3| in the compartment IS. The coils 42 and 43 extend above the cabinet, as shown at 44, 45, respectively, and are connected to the valves 22, 22. These valves are carried by the arms 48, 49, and control the passage of the sweet "water and the carbonated water througlrfthe chamber "5, where they have their temperatures reduced. I

From thecompartment [6 the refrigerant passes through a second restrictor section-5|, which is in series with'f'the passage 30, 38. The diameter of this tube is considerably smaller than the main line 30, 50 that this restrictor section The refrigerant passing through this restrictor tube expands into/a coil 52 in the counter rail compartment-l3 for maintaining the jars 24 at the desired temperature. The diameter of the coil 52 may be, but not necessarily so, of slightly less diameter than the coil 38. From the compartment I9 the refrigerant passes into .a sectionline .Ilim-whichis an extensional the main line .30, v and into the ice cream compartment throughthe expansion coil therein, or The mainline extension and expansion coil 53 have substantially the's'ame diameters, andpreferably, though not necessarily, have a'diameter 'greaterthan the mainline 30 or 001138. This gives a greater expansion "spacegper foot length of pipe, so that, being-nearer the suction end of thexmain extension line 30a, the temperature .in

the chamber or compartment 11 may be materialiy reduced over the temperatures in any of :theforegoing compartments. From the coil '53 the refrigerant passes over .into the hardening compartment 18 throughthe ;--pipe 1301), then through athe expansion =eoil 'iid'vior maintaining this compartment at a'xt'emperature' materially lower than the ifreezingpoint of'watenandbelow the temperature in any "of the other "compart- :ments. From the coil 54 the refrigerant passes through'the suction line .300 back to the compressor, thuscompleting the cycle of operation.

The condenser coi1f-3'4,*the expansion cells 31,

38, 52, 53 and 54 are iall'in series with the com- I pressor, and with the restrictor sections 3fiand" 5L I'Ihe'iengths zand diameters of the various coils, and the restric'tor tubes or sections, will vary with the'difieren't sizes of installations, with the -:efliciency of 'the heat insulating material employed for the cabinet, with the .room 'tem-; 'perature; with the number of compartments .em-

played-, "with the diiferences of temperatures maintained in these compartments, and with the amount of refrigeration required, as well the type of compressor employed and the kind ofrefrigerant used, and various Otherfactors too 'n'umerousto' mention.

" Suitable means are providedffor controlling the operation of the compressor motor 33.

.AS shown, this is accomplished by .a' conventionalthermostatically controlled switch '55; which is the fluid in the bulb u. thus permitting the spring inJthe thermostatic control to open the switch I! and stop the motor, as is well understood in-the art. Since the motor is not greater than one-half horsepower, it is not necessary to provide a relay starting mechanism for the motorwbut the same isstarte'd directly byclosing the switch 55.

In the construction shown, all of the joints connecting the mainline and viilla'to the various expansion coils and :restrictor sections are brazed, and are, allv installed in the cabinet, so that the entire apparatus constitutes a unitary hermetically sealed structure that may be sold-as a single unit, thereby :greatly reducing the cost of equipment and installation.

Since the various coils maybe varied in both length and'diameten'as well as the'kind to! material employed, it'isnot possible to give a definite set of dimensions thatwill fitall conditions. For instance, the volume capacity of a given expansion coil maybe increased by lengthening the coil, or by increasing its diameter. Shorter coils adapted to -be operated by a volatile'iiuid'in a fluid expansion bulb *56, located in one of the compartments, as'is well known :in the art. .As shown, it is located in the "water 'OOOliI'ig'zcOIll- -partment 16, Fig. 2. The thermostat-controlled switch may be'of any orithe usual or wellknown type, such, -for instance, as the lever toggle type 1 operated by a'bellows that is opposed by'ia'spring, 'thecompression of which is adjustable by the .member -51 for adjusting the operation of the control 55 for varying the temperatures in the compartments.

By adjusting "the set-screw or adjusting member 51 'to change the spring compression, it changesthe pressure required for 'operating the switch, and consequently varies the cycling period of the apparatus. With this arrangement the overall temperature of the cabinet'can be controlled .by a single-adjustment.

Since the specific :details .of this control constitute no part of the presentcinven'ti'on other themes used, it is not thoughtnecessarytto illustrate or desoribelthefsame in detailed structure.

Any one of" the various thermostat type controls,

' preferably the snap type 'for preventing arcin may be employed "for thispurpose. I

-When the temperature in the chamber l8 rises above a predetermined amount "the pressure developed by the expansion of the expanding fluid in the "bulb 56 will become sufllc'ient to operate thesswitch 55, andttliis will in turn close the circuit through the motor 33. Likewise the lowering *of the temperature within the water 4 bathcompartment, as a result of the operation of the compressonwill cause a. contraction of :about 18' long; and the tubes of the expansion 4 example. Athird or half horsepower motor was employed for operating the compressor, the Y main line :30 up to the restrictor section 5-38 from the condenser is 4" outside diameter and about 7' long, the suction orextension 30a from the coil :54 vtojthe compressor-is 8 feet long and is Va"*outslde diameter; the .restrictor'passage 38 2isp.037.' inside diameter, 36'? long; the tube of "the coilsl l and '38 are a -haliinch outside diameter, and together are about-'55 long, and are about the-same length; the restrictor tube ii is .070" inside diameter and about .24" long; .the tube of the coil :52 is outside diameter and :coi1s '53 and '54 are outside diameterand together areabout 87' long, .and are, substantially 01' the same length, The temperature of the room within which the cabinet was placed was about 86.

The 'iar rail was maintained at an average tem- *perature of 41 F.; liquid inthe syrup jars was maintained at 46; thestorage compartment at around 32; ice cream compartment at around 3 'above zero, and the hardening compartment 'at-about -5 The average operating time-was approximately 65%. 'Thesedimensions are given by way of example only. It is understood that these measurements may "be varied within certain'lim'its, even for the same capacity fountain.

It will thus beseen that the refrigerant is'circulated in series through-the various compartments, and that no expansion or pressure controlled valves arenecessary. 'It will also be appreciated that the motor and compressor :unit is hermetically.sealedgand that the system is the hermetic type, and, as a resultthe apparatus may ,be readily installed, and that it will only 'be necessary, in installing the device, 'to' make the proper connection with the sweet water supply pipe and the carbonatedwater supply pipe when 7 the apparatus is purchased as a'complete unitary 5 structure.

Furthermorethe water bath serves as a source sion, The loEation c'fthe thermo-switch bulb l8 is located where the refrigeration load in the system is subject to-rapid change and wide variation, or where'the temperature to be maintained is critical.

For instance the'bulb is shown located in the liquid bath where the temperature must not drop below the freezing point of the water in the coils 42 and 431. In those instances. however, where a diiTerent Water cooler is used, as where space is conserved to the utmost heat exchange may be had through contacting turns of nested coils (Figs. 4,6 and 6), the control of refrigeration may be had with an expansion coil connected in parallel with the other coils and having an expansion valve inlet and an outlet pressure control valve for adequate and instant control of refrigeration.

'In. such an arrangement the cabinet control bulb 56 is located in the storage compartment l5,

and although two flow restrictors 36 and are shown, one flow restrictor such as 5| can be eliminated, the one restrictor 38 being enough to control the system adequately.

Referring to Fig. 6 the sweet water coil is indicated at 42a, each turn thereof beingiidentified by a lead line, the carbonated water coil is indicated in a like manner at 4341, and the refrigeration coil and its turns at 38a. The coils are pancaked helices connected together in appropriate relationship by brazing. and the assembly'placed in a box and covered with Hydrolene or the like to prevent condensation upon the coils.

The outlets of the water coils are indicated at aand 4511 with the inlets at 38a and lla. The expansion valve is shown at 10 upon the inlet ll of the refrigeration coil 38a and the pressure control valve at 12 upon the outlet I3. The bulb H ofthe expansion valve is nested .with the inlets of the coils as held in heat exchange relationship'wit'h each one of them by a clamp 15.

The respective controls for the water cooler 3| a are set to operate within the pressure range present ahead of the restricting orifice 36 where the inlet H of the refrigeration control is connected,'and a small reservoir "capable of storing approximately one to two pounds of refrigerant is connectedinto the-refrigerant supply line 'H beyond a check valve 11 which prevents the back flow of refrigerant in the line H. The check valve and reservoir store up liquid refriglerant 'd'uring the on" cycle of the compressor to take care of extra heavy loads on the water cooler during the off cycle of the compressor,

the compressor being controlled primarily from the bulb 56.

If desired, suitable means" may be provided preferred form only, and that the condensing unit may be located within the compressor housing and in the base of the machine in event the condenser is water cooled.

It isthought from the foregoing, taken in connectionwith'the accompanying drawings, that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that 7 changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of cooling compartments, an expansion coil in each compartment, compressor and condenser mechanism for supplying a refrigerant to said coils, valveless passages connecting said coils in series with said mechanism, said passages having at least two sections in which the internal diameters thereof are restricted to function as expansion valves, each restrictor being anterior to at least two expansion coils in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, the lengths and internal diameters of the coils being such that oneof the compartments after the first restrictor will be maintained at a higher temperaturethan the first compartment and theother compartment, thermo-sensitive means in the second compartment after one of the restrictors for controlling the amount of refrigerant flowing through said coils in a given time, a thermostatically controlled water cooler connected in parallel with said passages across the compressor and condenser mechanism including a check valve proximate to the inlet of the expansion coil of the water-cooler,-

and a reservoir for refrigerant connected to the water cooler refrigerant line between said check valve and expansion coil of the water cooler.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of cooling compartments, an expansion coil in each compartment, a compressor and a condenser for supplying liquefied refrigerant to said coils, valveless passages connecting said coils in serieswith said compressor and condenser, a section of one of said passages having a reduced internal diameter to form a restrictor, said re'strictor being between said compressor and said expansion coils, a water cooler comprising another; expansion coil in heat exchange relationship witha body of water, a conduit connecting the condenser with said water cooler expansion coil, a reservoir in communication with said conduit, check valve means in saidv conduit for I preventing the back fiow of refrigerant from'the reservoir, and thermosensitive means disposed in said water cooler for controlling the flow of refrigerant fromsaid reservoir through'said water cooler,

' 3. In a refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of cooling, compartments, and expansion coil in each compartment, compressor and" condenser mechanism for supplying a refrigerant tosaid coils, valvelesspassages connecting said coils in series with said mechanism, a section of one of said passages having a reduced internal diameter to form a restrictor, said restrictor being anterior to said expansion coils, thermosensitive means for controlling the operation of said mechanism disposed in one of said compartments, 9. water cooler comprising an, expansion .coil and means for bringing water in heat exchange relationship with said coil, a conduit connecting that portion of said passages anterior tosaid restrictor with said water cooler expansion coil, a reservoir in communication with said conduit, and

- check valve means for preventing the back flow of refrigerant from said reservoir to said passages.

4. For use in a refrigerating apparatus the combination including, a. cooling compartment having an expansion coil therein, compressor and condenser mechanism for supplying a refrigerant to said coil, therrnosensitive means disposed in said cooling compartment for controlling the operation of said mechanism, a conduit having a restrictor extending from said mechanism to said expansion coil, a water cooler-comprising a second expansion/coil and means for maintaining a body of water in heat exchange relationship with said second coil, a conduit having a back flow check valve connecting said second ing at least two sections in which the internal.

diameters thereof are restricted to function as i expansion valves, each restrictor being anterior to at least two-expansion coils in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, the lengths and internal diameters of the coils being such that one of the compartments after the first restrictor will be maintained at a higher temperaturethan another compartment after the first restrictor, and thermosensitive means in the second compartment after said first restrictor for controlling the amount of refrigerant flowing through said coils in a given time.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus having at least four cooling compartments, an expansion coil in each compartment, compressor and condenser mechanism for supplying a refrigerant to said coils, valveless passages connecting said coils in series with said mechanism, said passages having at least two sections in which the internal diameters thereof are restricted to function as expansion valves, each restrictor being anterior to at least two expansion coils in the direction or flow of the'refrigerant, the lengths and internal diameters of the coils being such that one'of the compartments after 'the first restrictor will be maintained at a higher temperature than another compartment after the first restrictor, thermosensitive means in the second compartment after one of the restrictors for controlling the amount of refrigerant flowing through-said coils in a given time, a thermostatically controlled water cooler supplied with refrigerant through a conduit connected across the compressor and condenser mechanisminj eluding a reservoir means for refrigerantin the inlet portion of said conduit.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus, a cabinet having a chamber for houslngthe operating mechanism, a storage compartment, a water cooling compartment, a jar rail compartme t, an ice cream compartment and a hardening compartment,'a compressor and condenser within said chamber, coils for sweet and carbonated water in the water cooling compartment, an expan-,

sion coil extending through said water cooling compartment, a material within said last named compartment to prevent frosting of the coils, an expansion coil in each of the remaining compartments, conduits connecting said compressor, condenser and expansion coils in a closed circuit through said compartments, 9. restrictor in said circuit anterior-to the expansion coil within said storage compartments. restrictor in said circuit ahead of the expansion coil in said Jar rail compartment, said compressor-and restrictors constituting the only obstruction aside from friction to the free flow of refrigerant through said circuit, thermosensitive means con-. trolled by the temperature within said water cooling compartment for controlling the circulation of said refrigerant through saidcircuit,

means for adjusting said last named means and means for connecting the expansion coil in the water cooling compartment to the compressor HERMAN K. J QHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES gn'rnn'rs ahead of the first restrictor. 

